Svarik and the company I :)

[VisAnastasis]

" I am good with all kinds of animals, and I have an avid number of them under my care. I keep them at the highest hill, in the palace of my wife, so my kids and grandkids can play with them and they can have plenty of spaces where visitors can enjoy them. Most are what would be best considered wild ones, but I do have three more less tame wolves and four of their little pups there. I can give you rooms here, or if you'd prefer, I could arrange you proper documents and a room in the main palace where my wife works, so your Xia could watch around and play with animals she likes. Or I could just lead you to visit there sometimes during your stay - I would bid you to decide what you'd like best. " he agreed, while caressing the playful fluffy fox.

[Mirach]

"I think we would rather stay here. I came all the way the avoid a palace," Svarik smirked a little. "But we could visit there some other day, so Xia can see your animals. Are they all tame?" 

[VisAnastasis]

" They are... As tame as a well nurtured wild animals can be called tame. All are tame for me and those of my blood. To strangers - only if I am with them. Not that they are violent, you see - they just are not quite that cuddly as when I am there. Many visitors come and go, and can observe them freely without being attacked, as I care for them and feed them well - but if you want to touch or play with them, me or someone of my family should accompany you, just in case. "

[Mirach]

"I'm just asking because she has had some bad experience with wild animals," Svarik said. "Maybe we will just watch the dogs, we shall see what she will prefer."

[VisAnastasis]

" As I said, I have wolves, not common dogs. I fear we do not have any dogs in the whole city, only plenty of cats. " he explained. " But I hope they will be suitable none the less. "

[Mirach]

"Really? No dogs in the city? Why is it so? And is she too noticeable as a dog then?" Svarik asked with worry.

[VisAnastasis]

" How to say... My Demon friend doesn't like dogs. He is of such nature that they are unfriendly to him and just keep barking at him or trying to bite him. He was always uncomfortable and on guard here, and I didn't like it. That's why couple of decades ago I made sure to buy of all dogs in the city, and then I found them homes throughout sea cost far from here. If some new dog comes along, I just buy him of and find him home elsewhere, where he can't inconvenience my friend. " he said with a little smile, knowing, but not particularly seeming to care if anyone would frown at absurd length he was ready to go for for his friend's comfort. " It is one dog, and you're just visiting, and we don't have that prohibition for travelers - and, besides, she is not ordinary dog, one that would have urges to bring him harm. I shall not keep her from enjoying herself in form pleasing to her, little Nightingale, as long as she behaves in case she crosses path with my friend. "

[Mirach]

"She only has the shape of a dog, not the mind of one, so I don't think she would want to harm him just for the form. But is the reason why you bought the dogs also known in the city? How familiar are the people with demons?"

[VisAnastasis]

" It's harder to explain fine print to common folk, and it would generally be distasteful and unpleasant to have to explain being a Demon is not quite what fairy tales would suggest every other day, so we don't prefer it, specially since war is at hand. " Sage explained. " We, however, don't claim him human, no - since we have lot of legends about creatures called Immortals - he is just posing as one of them, and that is enough. To common folk, unlike to you and me, all Beings look equally strange, be they Spirits or Demons, so there's no point in informing them about the distinction and frightening them for no reason, in my opinion. As you see, I avoid mentioning anything of his name, to protect him from your future gazing guest back home, but my friend, as he is, known just as Being, is quite beloved here and we we him great deal for prosperity of our city: I was open with my reasons, and people met them with understanding. Alas, as it goes, some tears over beloved pets were shed at a time - but as animals got new good homes, and former families got fine bags of silver and gold, everyone was happy in the end; and most importantly of all, my friend was happy too, and could finally make a pleasant home for himself here. "

[Mirach]

"So a dog form might still be less conspicuous than this one, I guess," Svarik concluded. "And in some other city we may find a proper dog to watch."

[VisAnastasis]

" As I said, we don't just take away dogs of visitors - not everyone travels with dog, and even if they do, they will leave sooner than later, and one or two at a time is more easy to ignore than hundreds. " man noted. " Fourth city that I recommended you before, is very big, and by what I know, it has plenty of cats and dogs both, and good inns and great places to visit. I can't recommend you any Being ones for sake of their safety, but I have one good human friend there that I could recommend you to. He's just a human, yes, but he had known me for a while, and won't ask needless questions about your golden dog with blue eyes that can purr. Plus, he is a cook in the inn that he owns, and his food is devilishly great, if I may say. "

[Mirach]

"That sounds great. We may go there tomorrow or the next day. But I think I should retire already. Being the only one from this company who needs sleep feels like spoiling the fun..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Well, if your companions don't mind - I said, I will find all the time needed for friends of ser Falcon. You could go to sleep, and they could stay with me and talk with me, if they desire. "
Such suggestion seemed to surprise Erdel a little bit, as he didn't expect such an offer, and it seemed a great temptation, as he normally preferred to let Svarik speak, but if he had chance, it's not like he was without questions... But still, parting with his king was a strange motion he would never even consider had Sage not been person of trust to Falcon.
" I am not sure... " he whispered. " I would never leave him alone, but if Xia would go with s... sir Nightingale, I think I wouldn't be as hesitant to stay here for a little while longer so I could speak with you privately. You seem to know a lot, and I have lot to learn yet... Of all this... "

[Mirach]

"Stay, please," Svarik asked him. "I will feel better for not spoiling the chance to talk for you. I would ask Xia if she wants to stay as well, but I think she wouldn't want to leave me..."

[VisAnastasis]

" My Demon friend is here, and he could speak their tongue with her, but I fear even that may bring danger to him, so I am sorry, I would rather not call him. " Sage shook his head regretfully. " If you are sure she would choose to go with you, Nightingale, I could escort you to your room now, so me and your friend Erdel can go somewhere nice to have a break from this inside air and talk. "

[Mirach]

"Let's go then, I won't delay you longer. And I may be wrong, maybe she will want to go with you. I will just let her do what she wants."

[VisAnastasis]

Man nodded, and he stood up.
" Are there some special conditions of room you prefer that I could perhaps delight you with, little forest bird? " he nodded lightly, acknowledging king's importance, but seeming to not quite feel the need to bow. " I aim to please."

[Mirach]

"I will be content with whatever you can offer. But if there is a choice, I would prefer a big window," Svarik said. 

[VisAnastasis]

" Would some room on the attic please you, then? I have one free that isn't quite spacey, I fear, but has great view upon the ocean and stars at night. I have the only key, as I need to pass through that room to climb upon the roof when I desire to. "

[Mirach]

"Thank you, that would be lovely," Svarik smiled. 

[VisAnastasis]

The Sage grinned at him amiably. Then, he led them upstairs, to the highest floor of his palace, to attic. As every part of the house, it seemed lovely, though less crowded and decorated in details - gold and silver and trinkets were for the show and delight of the eyes, but here, The Sage seemed to come when he would desire more quiet and needed time to think about life's important questions.
He was stepping before them all, and he opened the door to the room he intended for them - it was indeed rather small compared to other rooms, but indeed cozy, with lovely view - perhaps by technical wonder, or by some magic, it seemed, what from the outside of building appeared to be a wall, here was a long glass window, allowing full view around, being the border between the room kept warm by the cozy fireplace, and the night world outside.

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" You have a bed and table there, and I will see to it that some snacks and refreshments are brought to you, if it's to your liking. " Man was explaining. " In other corner, you also have a place to bath, should need arise for that.."

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" .. and I can also borrow you the key to the roof while you're staying here. " Sage offered kindly. " I know respected Falcon loves to watch the night sky - if you do as well, you're welcome to use the roof, it's quite safe. The way to it is here from this room, a bit aside - you just go up this magical staircase and you can't miss it. Beside the staircase, you have the little kitchen, where you can cook, if you perhaps prefer that to food of my cooks. "

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[Mirach]

"It's perfect," Svarik smiled. "I will just go straight to bed now, but maybe tomorrow I will use more of it. It's great that you can see the sea and the sky right from the bed. I wonder that Falcon doesn't have a room like this..."

[VisAnastasis]

" It is no wonder - I imagine it can technically be built, but this particular room has to be maintained by advanced spells and runes. They keep insides different from outside, turn lanterns of and on voice command, keep fireplace always burning, and so on.... Not everyone has such a luxury to build and maintain something like this. When I was at capital three years ago, I noticed there was Spirit child in Orphanage that I've heard Falcon later adopted, but I fear that this is not a kind of magic she'd know to set up. It's delicate knowledge, and one made by joined effort of me, my Spirit and Demon best friends, while we were designing this home for us together. To be honest.. This is not only magical room here... " he admitted. " To make sure no intruders can just walk in, many rooms just.. change places, directions, locations, have hidden traps... It's a maze designed to recognize and catch intruders, especially if someone steals something - all the gold and decorations are a great bait. But do not worry. Even without my blessing, being officially invited by me here, no room will trap or eat you or anything. Magic of my house will just work to your convenience, little Nightingale, because you are my guest and because I like you. By the way - try not to freak out when you wake up, and your used clothes are washed up and dry, and your bed tidies itself after you stand up - room likes order and symmetry, and sometimes it randomly takes care of dirty or unsightly things that bother it. If you have some nibbled food, take head to eat them before bed too - for room has a glitch we couldn't yet fix when she concludes nibbled food is something that she should cast in a trash.  "

[Mirach]

"Oh, thanks for the warning. Not knowing that, it would certainly at least surprise me. So the fire will keep burning without tending? That's handy..."

[VisAnastasis]

" Fires burn at all times in all rooms - we don't burn down wood, but some nasty magical leftovers and Being bones from the ocean that needs destroying, so we need to have fires constantly running, anyway, so it's quite handy we don't have to do it ourselves. However, we also added a magic coating to everything to prevent fire from burning anywhere but in ovens and kitchens, so no fire hazards exist. Windows are such that no arrows can pierce them, either. " he smiled, and he seemed proud to have been able to create such a protective and safe environment for him and his Being friends to live in. " Everything in the palace had been carefully programmed to the notch, to suit our needs, conceal presences and magic of everyone that's inside, and all else required to hide and comfort A Spirit fugitive and a Demon in those times. If it eases your mind - I can guarantee no evil force from the outside of this home's walls can sense you and your friends here either. You can sleep soundly. "